Boat fender

ABSTRACT

An easily storable and transportable boat fender including two fender boards, each fender board having a slot. To assemble and use the boat fender the two fender boards are combined by inserting the slot from one board into the slot of the other board and pressing the two boards together. To store the boat fender the boards are separated, after which they occupy a relatively small amount of space and may be stored in a number of convenient locations.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to bumpers and fenders, particularly those that are used with marine vessels.

Discussion of Prior Art

Boat fenders are devices that are used to shield, cushion and otherwise protect marine vessels from rubbing against docks, piers, rafts, and other vessels and similar such objects that may be adjacent to the vessels. For the sake of brevity, the term “boat” will be used hereinafter, but it is understood that the term includes other vessels. Boat fenders come in a variety of forms, such as inflated bladders and soft foams, and are typically cylindrical or spherical in shape. In order to sufficiently serve their intended purpose, the fender must have sufficient width and strength to separate the boat from an adjacent object. Unfortunately, fenders with sufficient size also occupy a significant amount of space onboard the boat, and this is a particular problem if the boat is small. It is typical for a boat to carry four fenders, further exasperating the space problem.

What is needed, therefor, is a boat fender that has the necessary size and strength, but does not take up a significant amount of space on the boat.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a boat fender comprising at least two fender boards that may be combined to form a durable boat fender that has sufficient strength and rigidity to prevent a boat for coming into contact with other objects and that is also easily storable and transportable when the fender boards are in their separated form.

Each fender board is approximately the same size and shape, being generally rectangular in shape and having a slot that extends approximately half of the length of the board along or closely parallel to a longitudinal axis that extends lengthwise on the board. To use the fender, the boards are combined by inserting one board into the slot of another board and pressing the boards together until the end of the slot is reached, and then securing the boards together with any suitable means, such as a rope. To store the fender, the boards are separated and, typically, stacked together, at which point they occupy little space and may conveniently be stored in any number of out-of-the-way locations. The size of the boards may vary, but in general four fenders may be separated and stored in the space commonly occupied by a single traditional fender.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the two flat fenders in position for attachment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the two fender boards stacked on top of one another for storing.

FIG. 4 is a perspective image of the device connected and secured by a rope serving as an attachment means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a boat fender 100 according to the invention comprising two or more fender boards 10. The fender boards 10 are approximately the same size and shape, being generally rectangular in shape and having length significantly greater than its width and has a thickness that is relatively thin. The thickness is dimensioned to provide the strength necessary to protect the boat, yet be thin enough to occupy minimal space while not in use. For example, while many dimensions are suitable, the board 10 having a length of 20 inches, width of 8 inches, and thickness of 1.5 inches would be sufficient. In the embodiment shown, the length is approximately that of the conventional boat fender and the width corresponds approximately to the diameter of the conventional boat fender.

Each fender board 10 has a slot 12, best illustrated in FIG. 2, that is positioned near the midpoint of a lateral axis that extends widthwise on the board 10 and that extends approximately half of the length of the board along or closely parallel to a longitudinal axis that extends lengthwise on the board 10. The slot extends from an opening 14 on one end of the fender board 10 to a closed end 16 located at or about halfway along the length of the fender board 10.

When the fender 100 is not in use, the boards 10 may be stacked on top of one another, as shown in FIG. 3, and may easily be stored in a number of out-of-the-way locations on board the boat. To use the fender 100, two or more boards 10 are coupled together by inserting one board 10 into the slot 12 of another board 10 and pressing the boards together until the closed ends 16 come into contact.

A rope R, shown in FIG. 4, is attached to the top of the board 10 on which the slot 12 is open toward the top, thereby providing a means of securing the fender 10 to the boat. The fender 100 is secured with the boards 10 in the coupled position, using any suitable means, for example, a cinch device (not shown) may be used to secure the boards 10, or a slip knot may be made with the rope to secure the connection at the top of the fender 100, or a conventional rope connection device (now shown) may be deployed for quick connections.

The fender board 10 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as, for example, a molded rubber or foam elastomer. In the embodiment shown, the fender boards 10 are hollow molded components formed through a rotational molding process. To help the board 10 hold its shape and to provide additional strength and rigidity a number of slots 18 are provided, and a number of connector points 22, often referred to as “kiss points”, are provided where the molded material of each external sidewall is connected.

In the embodiment shown two fender boards 10 are used to form the fender 100 in the shape of a cross, however, it is understood that additional boards 10 may be added and additional configurations may be formed.

It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction of the fender boards may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without limiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is: 1: A boat fender comprising: two fender boards, each fender board having a slot that extends along a portion of the length of the board and that is positioned along a longitudinal axis that extends lengthwise on the board, the slot having an opening on one end of the fender board and wherein the boards are coupled together by inserting the open end of one slot into the open end of the other slot. 2: The boat fender of claim 1, wherein the two fender boards are approximately the same size and shape, each being generally rectangular in shape and having length significantly greater than its width. 3: The boat fender of claim 2, wherein the slot extends from the opening to a closing end that is located at approximately the midpoint of the length of the fender board. 4: The boat fender of claim 3, wherein the opening of the slot is located at approximately the midpoint of the width of the fender board. 5: The boat fender of claim 4, wherein the fender boards are coupled together using a rope. 